Liquid retaining tank



June 17, 1969 L. BENSON ETAL 3,450,294

LIQUID RETAINING TANK Filed Oct. 24, 1965 Sheet of 2 INVENTORS LOUIS BENSON CHARYL S. BENSON June 17, 1969 L. BENSON ETAL 3,450,294

LIQUID RETAINING TANK Filed Oct. 24, 1965 Sheet Of 2 FLOOR LEVEL INVENTORS LOUIS BENSON CHARYL S. BENSON United States Patent 3,450,294 LIQUID RETAINING TANK Louis Benson and Charyl S. Benson, both of 1075 Old Ford Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,867 Int. Cl. B65d 7/.02 US. Cl. 220- 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A liquid retaining tank having its floor and upright surrounding wall composed of interfitting panel sections; each joined together in such a manner as to form a liquid-tight seal at the various points of juncture.

The present invention relates to an improvement in high capacity liquid storage tanks, and more particularly, to swimming or wading pools having pre-formed and interlocking sections.

Most present pool installations may be categorized as being either permanent or semi-permanent types.

The permanent installations are usually formed on the site, and consist mainly of masonry construction. This type of pool is generally located below ground level, and, of course, il rarely disassembled for movement to another location.

Most semi-permanent installations are comprised of a highly resilient liner material, such as Du Pont vinyl, stretched over an upstanding supporting structure of wire mesh, tubing or cinder block. This type of installation requires, at least partial, disassembly during the non-use months, since the liner must be stored indoors as a protective measure against the winters elements. Being of relatively fragile consistency, the liner frequently is subject to inadvertent rips, tears and punctures during its use and storage.

Further, this type of installation also requires that the immediate area beneath the liner be cleared of grass of other decomposable vegetation, before assembly, to pre vent liner corrosion and odor; thus disturbing the asthetic appearance of a lawn, during the non-use months, and inviting soil erosion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive all-weather type pool construction for use above or below ground level.

A second object provides an easily assembled or disassembled pool construction having preformed, watertight, interlocking, high strength panels.

A third object would provide an elevated pool construction to permit air flow and distribution below most of the pool floor when installed over grassy terrain, and the like.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in more detail in the explanation of the annexed drawings and specification in which:

FIG. 1 shows the top view of one form of the instant invention; and,

FIG. 2 shows the bottom view of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the center panel of FIGS. 1 and 2; and,

FIG. 5 depicts an enlarged sectional portion of an alternate type of panel interlock; and,

FIG. 6 shows still another type of panel interlock.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a pool having a generally circular configuration. This is not to be construed as a limiting factor, since various alternate shapes, including oval, square, rectangular, triangular, free-form, etc. may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

Referring specifically, now, to the configuration of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the pool, generally designated by the numeral 100, is comprised of a central hub 10, to which are attached interconnected quadrants W, X, Y and Z.

Quadrants W and Z are identical; each comprising a floor panel 12, an upstanding wall section 16, and a top coping section 18.

Quadrants X and Y are identical; each comprising a floor panel 14, an upstanding wall section 16, and a top coping section 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral portion of hub 10 is composed of alternately spaced, horizontally slotted flanges 10a which abut with narrow flanges 10b. Radially spaced holes are located near the periphery of hub -10 and extend through flanges 10a and 10b, respectively.

Supporting legs 15 are strategically located on the underside of hub 10 (as shown in FIG. 2). The holes 100 are axially aligned with some of legs 15 and may extend at least partially through legs 15.

Floor panels 12 are adapted with narrow flanges 12a, which contain a plurality of spaced apart holes 12c extending therethrough.

=Floor panels 14 are adapted with slotted flanges 14a, which contain a plurality of spaced apart holes 140 extending therethrough.

Supporting legs 15 also located on the undersides of panels '12 and 14 (as shown in FIG. 2) and the holes and 14c are axially aligned with some of legs 15.

During assembly, portions of each of narrow flanges 12a are inserted into slotted flanges 10a. When flanges 12a are fully seated therein, holes 100 and 120 are in axial alignment, and movement restraining pins 50 may then be inserted through said aligned holes, thus, forming a completed interlock joint 20' between floor panels 12 and hub 10'.

Floor panels 14 may then be positioned so that narrow flanges 10b seat in portions of each of slotted flanges 14a, while, concurrently, the remainder of flanges 120 seat in the remaining slotted flanges 14a. When fully seated, holes 10c and are axially aligned, as are holes 100 and 12c, then, restraining pins 50 may be inserted through said aligned holes, thus, forming an interlock joint 20 between floor panels 12 and 14 and hub 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, joint 20 configurations are utilized to connect upstanding wall sections 16 to floor panels 12 and 14, and also to top coping sections 18. Additional sections 16 may be utilized for increased wall height, as desired.

Strengthening ribs 24a, 24b and 24c are peripherally spaced about the outer extremity of the pool, for added support. They may be made integral with the floor panels 12 and 14, walls 16 and coping 18, or separately added. Cables 25 are each inserted through holes 23 in said ribs and drawn tight by turnbuckle 26. Of course, ribs 24a, 24b and 240, and the cables 25 may be omitted entirely, provided that a below ground installation is contemplated in reasonably firm soil.

It is contemplated that the pool sections depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 be constructed of high strength or reinforced plastic, or the like, having sufficient resiliency to elfect a water-tight seal to prevent leakage between the various interlocking members.

In instances wherein the interlocking sections cannot inherently produce a water-tight joint, the alternate embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 5, the narrow flange 120a of panel 120 is entirely enveloped by resilient gasket 11. Panel 120 is moved in the direction of the dotted arrow and becomes fully seated in slotted flange 140a of panel 140, when face 11 abuts all surfaces of the slotted portion of flange 3 140a, and shoulders 11g abut faces 140g. Now, holes 1200 and 1401: become axially aligned, and pins 50 may be inserted; thus completing the water-tight joint 20A.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 is generally similar to that of FIG. 5, except that panel 120 is to be joined to a slightly modified version of panel 140, which is now referred to as panel 141. Panel 141 is adapted with threaded portion 141d and hole 1410, which, when aligned with hole 1200 of panel 120, will accept the insertion of resilient sleeve 56 and bolt 55 to form water-tight joint 20B, as bolt 55 is drawn into threaded portion 141d.

The threaded bolt 55 and pins 50 may be composed of low resilience material having high strength characteristics, such as Du Pont Delrin.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure relates only to a single embodiment of the instant invention, and that numerous modifications and alterations of the apparatus disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid retaining tank, comprising:

(a) a plurality of substantially rigid and peripherally intermeshable panel members being collectively joined in a closed configuration of tongue and groove junctures to form a unitary floor with a suiroundingly contiguous upstanding wall,

(b) said junctures being continuously formed along the outer extremities of said panel members and each having at least one female member with a mating male member seated therein,

(c) sealing means forming a torturous and elongated path between said mating male and female members for resisting the escape of a liquid to be retained within said tank,

(d) locking means through said male and female members for restraining separation of said junctures,

(e) adapter means on said wall for increasing the height of said wall with additional said panel members and junctures,

(f) bracing means on said wall for strengthening said wall and resisting vertical sway.

2. In the device of claim 1:

(a) said bracing means comprising a plurality of spaced apart vertically disposed rib members contiguous with said Wall,

(b) horizontally aligned apertures through said plurality of rib members,

(c) tightening means passing through said apertures in said rib members in successive order for reinforcing said rib members.

3. In the device of claim 1, said locking means comprising:

(a) at least one mutually aligned pair of apertures through said male and female members, respectively,

(b) a pin for insertion into said pair of apertures and retention therein.

4. In the device of claim 3:

(a) said pin being threadably engaged with at least one of said pair of aligned apertures.

5. In the device of claim 3:

(a) said pin being resilient and in contact with said sealing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,097 2/ 1897 Abrahams 220- 2,490,272 12/1949 Kascle 220-5 X 2,395,685 2/1946 Schmitz 2205 3,025,992 3/ 1962 Humphrey 2205 3,123,243 3/ 1964 Roesch 2205 X FOREIGN PATENTS 874,211 8/ 1961 Great Britain. 621,627 6/ 1961 Italy.

GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner. 

